ALBIA – Vandalism of electric utility equipment at Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative’s facilities led to a power brownout in southeastern Appanoose County on July 16.

Member-consumer-owners in southeastern Appanoose County reported having partial power Wednesday morning, and crews immediately dispatched to the area found three transformers and a voltage regulator had received gun shots.

“Our members-consumer-owners expect reliable electric service, and this senseless act placed electric reliability at risk,” said Jon Miles, general manager for Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative. “We ask that anyone having knowledge of this incident or who may have noticed any suspicious activity in Caldwell Township on or around July 15 or 16 to contact the Appanoose County Sheriff’s office so the people who committed this crime are held responsible for it.

“Your involvement could help keep the power on and reduce the risk of someone getting hurt.”

Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative provides power to approximately 6,000 consumers living in the city of Albia, and rural parts of Monroe, Appanoose, Wayne, Lucas, Wapello, Davis and Marion counties.

Rising metal prices make thieves bolder and more inventive

Theft of copper wire and other metal from Chariton Valley Electric Cooperative’s facilities is placing the lives of neighbors, friends, the cooperative’s employees and thieves at serious risk.

While stealing for scrap metal is nothing new, rising prices for copper and other metals in recent years have made thieves bolder and more inventive. For electric utilities, metal theft is first and foremost a safety issue, impacting employees, customers and anyone who may come into contact with electrical facilities. Across the country and in Iowa, there have been electrocution deaths as a result of attempts to steal copper wire or metal from utility facilities.

As a result of increased metal theft in recent years, electric utilities in Iowa have taken steps to secure substations and storage facilities. Steps taken to improve security include increased patrols and security measures at electric facilities; in some cases, exposed copper wire has been marked for easier identification by scrap dealers and law enforcement; and occasionally rewards have been offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of thieves who have stolen materials from facilities. Even with these preventative measures, electrical substations and material supply centers continue to be targets of theft.